from this evil place back to our own country, always
supposing that his health permits."

The good Le Moyne was much disturbed by this bold proposal, and
attempted to persuade the men to abandon their wild scheme and return
to their duties, awaiting patiently meantime the arrival of the
promised reinforcements from France. They insisted, however, that they
would not take their leave of him without hearing from the commandant
himself, and Le Moyne was finally forced to comply with their request,
and deliver their message to Laudonniere.

Upon receiving a report of what had occurred, the chevalier was highly
indignant; and but for the extreme weakness which the fever had laid
upon him, he would have arisen and gone out to the mutineers. As this
was impossible, he sent answer to them that he could not for a moment
consider their proposal. He and they had been sent to take and hold
possession of that country by their King, and here he should remain
until he received other instructions from the same source. As for
them, his orders were that they instantly resume their duties, and use
all diligence in strengthening the fort, and preparing for an attack
which might at any moment be made upon it by the savages from the south.

When Le Moyne returned to the soldiers with this answer, Simon, still
acting as spokesman for the rest, said,

"Thy message from the commandant is much as we expected it would be,
Master Le Moyne, and in return thou wilt kindly take to him word again
that for the preservation of our lives we shall certainly exert
ourselves to repel any attack that may be made against the fort. At
the same time we shall as certainly take active measures to insure our
own and his speedy departure from this unhappy country, in which we
have thus far gained naught but ill."

With this speech, and once more giving Le Moyne a stiff military
salute, the old soldier turned and marched away, followed by the rest
of the mutineers.

As soon as he was once more alone, Le Moyne made his report to
Laudonniere, and so excited did the sick man become on hearing it that
his fever took a sudden turn for the worse, and he was soon raving
deliriously, and calling upon Rene de Veaux not to desert him for his
enemies the Indians.

Meantime matters proceeded so rapidly outside that the keel of a small
vessel in which the mutineers hoped to cross the ocean to their own
country was laid that very day, and the labor of collecting sui